Emerson Hospitality, a full-spectrum real estate and hospitality platform, today announced its acquisition and redevelopment of Black Creek Barns, a historic 153-acre estate in Esopus, New York, into a 70-room destination resort that blends adaptive reuse, contemporary design, and immersive craft-driven experiences.
Located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, just 90 miles north of New York City, minutes from the Poughkeepsie Amtrak station, and adjacent to the John Burroughs Black Creek Trail, a 2,000-acre protected nature area, Black Creek Barns sits on a storied former agricultural complex once owned by Colonel Oliver Hazard Payne and originally designed by Julian Burroughs, son of celebrated conservationist John Burroughs. Emerson Hospitality plans to transform the estate into a luxury destination that honors the region’s heritage while introducing fresh, experience-focused programming.
The redevelopment will restore six historic structures and introduce newly built cabins and suites, totaling 70 luxury accommodations. Key resort amenities include:
- A 7,000-square-foot indoor event hall for weddings, festivals, concerts, and corporate retreats
- A 9,000-square-foot craft and design center
- Two distinctive dining venues, including an all-day casual cafe and a classic American tavern
- A greenhouse-inspired wellness center with gym, saunas, steam room, and plunge pools
- An outdoor cliffside pool, retail and exhibition spaces, and extensive walking trails
- Family and pet-friendly amenities, including firepits, a children’s ramble, and a dog run
“Black Creek Barns is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a destination shaped by history, landscape and community,” said Jordan Goldberg, Principal and CEO of Emerson Hospitality. “It is a privilege to work with the Town of Esopus to reimagine this historic campus as a resort and gathering place that combines craft, nature, wellness, and hospitality in a completely new way for the Hudson Valley.”
Emerson’s leadership team brings deep expertise across hospitality operations, creative placemaking, and culinary-driven development, led by Thomas Lunsford, Chief Operating Officer, a veteran hotel operator and former general manager of iconic hotels including 11 Howard, Gramercy Park Hotel, and NoMad NYC; Josh Nissenboim, Head of Creative, co-founder of Fuzzco with extensive experience in brand, experiential marketing, and adaptive reuse projects; and Alex and Adam Saper, recognized for bringing Eataly to major U.S. markets and developing culturally rich, food-forward destinations. Together, their vision and expertise will guide the creation of truly unique and curated experiences at Black Creek Barns.
The redevelopment is supported by a $38 million financing structure, which was arranged by IPA Capital Markets and includes:
- A $19 million construction loan from The LCP Group
- A $19 million C-PACE facility from Imperial Ridge Real Estate Capital and PACE Loan Group
“Jordan and the Emerson team have the vision and expertise to create something truly special,” said Mark Boyer, CEO of Imperial Ridge. “Black Creek Barns will deliver a best-in-class experience and become a remarkable asset to the Hudson Valley.”
“Black Creek Barns demonstrates the versatility of C-PACE financing,” said Rafi Golberstein, CEO and Founder of PACE Loan Group. “By partnering alongside The LCP Group and a strong sponsor, we were able to support both the construction and rehabilitation of this historic property.”
“Emerson Hospitality has a transformative vision for this estate, and our role was to structure a capital stack that made it achievable,” said Jordan Ray, Executive Managing Director, Capital Markets at IPA. “C-PACE financing provided the flexibility to lower the cost of capital while securing terms aligned with the project’s long-term success, and LCP delivered flexible senior capital to complete the financing.”
“Adaptive reuse and a hotel project of this nature require experienced sponsorship and a lender that is comfortable underwriting the operational complexity,” said Francis Lively, CEO of The LCP Group. “Emerson has a clear vision and the operating depth to execute it, and we were pleased to provide construction financing structured to support both the asset’s heritage and its evolution into a best-in-class asset.”
C-PACE financing will fund high-efficiency building systems and sustainability improvements, including ENERGY STAR windows, LED lighting, advanced HVAC and water systems, high-efficiency kitchen equipment, solarium glazing, and energy-efficient pool and spa systems. Prefabricated cabins by B&B Micro Manufacturing will further support a low-impact, environmentally conscious development plan. R.L. Baxter Building Corp. will serve as General Contractor for the project.
With the Hudson Valley attracting over 20 million annual visitors and tourism spending exceeding $1 billion in Ulster County, Black Creek Barns addresses a growing demand for true luxury accommodations–fewer than 5% of area hotel rooms currently meet this standard.
